PLANTS COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND NATURAL REGENERATION STATUS OF CHIGURE REMNANT NATURAL FOREST, NORTH SHEWA ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The few remnants natural forests of Ethiopia, localized in inaccessible areas and/or around churches and monasteries, are being threatened by climate change and anthropogenic factors. Thus, this study was designed to assess plant composition, structure, and natural regeneration status of the Chigure remnant natural forest. Systematic sampling methods were employed to collect vegetation data. Six line transects and 35 (20 m x 20 m) quadrats for trees with subplots of 10 m x 10 m, 5 m x 5 m, and 2 m x 2 m for shrubs/saplings, seedlings, and herbs respectively were established. Each line transects was laid at 200 m intervals and the quadrats on the line transect were established systematically at a 50 m interval from top to bottom. The composition and population structure data for woody species (DBH > 2.5 cm and height > 3 m), saplings (DBH < 2.5 cm and 1-3 m height) and all seedlings (height < 1 m) were recorded in each plot. A total of 108 species belonging to 94 genera and 54 families were recorded. Asteraceae had the highest number of species (13 species) followed by Fabaceae (9 species) and Poaceae (7 species). Nineteen tree species were recorded and their total density was represented by 1885.7 seedlings, 265 saplings, and 682.8 mature tree individuals per hectare. The study revealed the prevalence of small-sized individuals in the forest and the low regeneration potential of tree species. The regeneration status of most tree species was under fair, bad, and no regeneration categories. The forest is under threat because the local community uses it as a source of income by selling forest products, expanding their agricultural lands towards the forest, and using it as a grazing area. So, community awareness creation on its ecological services, cut and carry method for feeding animals, and further scientific research was recommended for the long-term sustainability and management of the forest.